34. Lyssa

The morning sunis just beginning to peek over the horizon the next morning as I ride through the quiet countryside on my motorbike, the wind whipping over me. Chicago feels a world away, even though I’m only an hour from the city limits.

I push the bike faster, eager to arrive at my destination.

Scarlett taught me several lessons. One of them is that I’m not as unfeeling as I thought. That inside the Wolf there’s a woman, too, with the dreams and desires of any woman. And right now, I just want a little time alone with those dreams and desires.

An old, abandoned farm comes into view over the rise in the road, still a ways in the distance, and I slow down a little, make sure nothing’s behind me or ahead as I take the turn off.

I have to be careful on the road leading to the farm; it’s deteriorated over the years. This place holds memories for me. It’s where I used to sleep rough after I ran away from Grandmother, before I found the courage to return to Chicago. Not even Hadria knows about it. It’s my secret, my sanctuary.

I don’t come here often. Only when I need to clear my head.

I park the bike and take a quick look around, making sure there are no signs of life. When I’m satisfied, I head to the old barn, unlock the padlock and shoving the door open against rusty hinges. The musty scent of moldering hay and wet wood fills my nostrils. The day has been cloudy, so it takes a second for me to let my eyes adjust, and then I move through the space, not bothering to hide the sound of my footsteps, until I reach a horse stall at the back.

And there she is, just where I left her after drugging her back at the high-rise.

Scarlett.

Bound, gagged, propped up against the best of the hay that I could find. The chain on her ankle is still solid—I check it with a perfunctory tug, and then I make sure her ropes are still tight, rolling her this way and that.

She lets me do it. She looks exhausted, defeated, but there’s still a defiant gleam in her hazel eyes when she meets my gaze.

When I’m sure she’s still bound up tight—and that I’m not going to get an unexpected stiletto blade in my heart—I crouch down beside her and gently remove the gag. She works her jaw, licking her dry lips.

“Water?”

“How about the bathroom?” she counters in a raspy voice.

“Let’s start with water.” I offer her the bottle, holding it to her mouth. She drinks greedily, spilling it down her chin, until she coughs and splutters, and I pull it away.

“Are my parents okay?” she asks, her voice still hoarse. I nod, and she slumps back with relief, before looking at me with suspicion again. “Why am I here? Why haven’t you killed me?”

I cap the water bottle, considering my words. “You’re here because we have unfinished business,” I say finally, my tone even. “With Grandmother. With Ariadne. With each other.”

Scarlett lets out a mirthless laugh. “Unfinished business? Is that what you call it? You and I both know you follow orders. You had orders to kill me. So why haven’t you?”

She sounds absolutely furious about it.

“Because I blame myself for what Grandmother did to you. You’re my creation just as much as you are hers. She took everything from me, just like she tried to do with you. Just like she’s done to countless others. And it has to stop, Scarlett. You’re going to help me stop it.”

“Why not just go after her yourself?”

I lean in, my face inches from hers. “Because as much as I hate to admit it, we’re stronger together. Because you’re the only one who truly understands the threat that Grandmother presents. And because...”

I trail off, the words sticking in my throat.

Because I can’t bear the thought of a world without you in it.

Because despite everything, I still want you.

Because I…

But I don’t say any of that. Instead, I stand again. “Just think it over.”

“I don’t need to think it over. I’m in.”

There she is, that brave, determined warrior that I saw fighting alongside me against the Sokolovs. Against Grandmother’s guards. That’s the Scarlett I need for this job.

“There’s one more thing you need to understand,” I tell her. “After we’ve dealt with Grandmother…I’ll be coming for you. Because like you said, Scar—I do follow orders.”

She laughs, scratchy and hard. “That old tune? You need to find a new one, Wolf.”

“That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”

She looks down for a moment, but then her chin comes up, determined and proud, those hazel eyes glowing fiercely. “I’ll take it.”